Hello from Miami! After returning home from our road trip last weekend, we’ve been in town all week, just in time for cases here to spike.
On the points & travel front, this week we saw some new promotions on purchased points, JetBlue launched cash and points award redemptions, Dubai revealed plans to reopen to visitors, Qantas announced the A380 will be grounded for years, and more.
With that out of the way, here’s a recap of this week on the blog:
Featured Stories
Hotels Aren’t Living Up To Their Coronavirus Promises
The past few days of travel has been so incredibly eye-opening for me. I want to start talking about our actual road trip, but there’s so much to cover first when it comes to flights and hotel stays (which is ultimately the focus of the blog).
I’ve stayed at three different hotels over the past three nights, and found myself disappointed by the extent to which they’re violating the coronavirus precautions set by corporate.
Amex Credit & Benefit Tracker
Update: This is a reminder to make any June purchases ASAP so they still post to your statement for this month. This can include the monthly streaming credit, monthly cell phone credit, and Saks credit for the first half of the year.
Several American Express cards offer statement credits and rebates as part of the card benefits. These can be very lucrative, and more than offset the annual fees on the cards, provided you can max out (or at least get close) the assorted credits.
TIPS: Earning Miles & Promos
Alaska Airlines Selling Miles At Lowest Cost Ever
Best Western Promo: $25 Gift Card After One Stay
Explora Hotels Selling Vouchers With 50% Bonus
LifeMiles Offering Best-Ever 155% Bonus (Special OMAAT Promo)
Hyatt Introduces New 20% Off Rate With Breakfast
Recap: 8 Opportunities To Buy Points
Bask Bank Introduces Refer-A-Friend Program
Great Deal: Save On Amazon With Amex
10 Reasons To Open A Bask Savings Account
Amex Credit & Benefit Tracker
IHG Premier Card Best-Ever 140K Bonus Still Available
TRICKS: Redeeming Miles
How To Use The British Airways Award Search Tool
Are JetBlue’s New Cash + Points Awards Worth It?
LifeMiles’ Star Alliance Award Sale (Including For First Class)
Cancel American AAdvantage Awards Online
79 Hilton Hotels & Resorts For US Getaways
TRAVEL With Ben (Lucky)
Hotels Aren’t Living Up To Their Coronavirus Promises
Coronavirus Culture Shock While Traveling
How Has Coronavirus Changed Hotel Breakfast?
Join Us For Today’s OMAAT Virtual Happy Hour!
REVIEWS & Trip Reports
Review: Riad Joya, Marrakech
The Marrakech Medina
La Maison Arabe Country Club
NEWS & Updates
Dubai Will Reopen To Visitors In July (With Testing)
Delta Air Lines Will Fly To Cape Town As Of October 2020
Emirates Cabin Crew Seek Revenge On Complaining Passenger
Lufthansa Union Boss Allegedly Demands €1 Million For Job Cuts
Full Details: Virgin Atlantic Resuming Flights
Air Belgium Announces New Routes, Airport Change
How Delta Air Lines Plans To Resume China Flights (With A Stop)
26 Emirates Passengers Arriving In Hong Kong Test Positive For Coronavirus
Maldives To Welcome Visitors As Of July 15 With Few Restrictions
New Senate Bill Could Pay For Your Next Vacation
Report: European Union To Ban Americans, Even When Borders Reopen
Emirates Will Start Flying The A380 Again
Qatar Airways’ Surprising 777 Retirement Plans
Cool: MIAT Mongolian Just Flew Direct To Seattle
Human Error Blamed For Pakistan Plane Crash
14-Day Travel Quarantine Coming To NY, NJ, And CT
Hawaii To Welcome Visitors With Pre-Travel Testing
American Airlines Pilots Want The Government To Pay For Middle Seats
Qantas Retires 747, Won’t Fly A380 For Years
Insanity: 150 Pakistan International Airlines Pilots May Have Fake Licenses
ATC Audio: Negligent Pilot Argues With Air Traffic Controller
Bain Capital To Take Over Virgin Australia
Airline Unions Request Another $32 Billion From The Government
American Airlines Gate Agent Prays Over PA
American Airlines Will Book Flights 100% Full As Of July 1
Allegiant Air Will (Finally) Require Face Coverings
United Airlines Resuming China Flights In July
No, An Emirates Flight Attendant Wasn’t Fired For Using Her Phone
I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!
I hope you post additional reviews and reflections from the recent road trip - it was an interesting and valuable series!
Would love an overview post on if you will continue to travel over the next few months with all that is going on. I would encourage you to do so - just get tested as often as is practical and go through all of the normal precautions. Many people are traveling his summer and it would be good to get a fuller idea of how things are out there. I am trying to figure out when and where